Sarah johnson



FLUID CLUTCH.

APPLICATION man APR-20. 191a.

Patented July 29, 1919.

I in venforr Afifivciaz'r Jab/2 W802? 32 /115 A 10 SINCLAIR J. JOHNSON, or MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY; SARAH aromvsoiv, nxncurzeix or Fro-E.

THE WILL OF SAID SINCLAIR J'. JOHNSON, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WALTER C. SHULTZ, OF MON'ICLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

FLUID-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29., 1919.

Application filed April 20, 1916. Seria1No.92,441. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SINCLAIR J. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fluid clutches to couple anduncouple a driving element to a driven element, and it is the object of the invention to provide a clutch of this character to permit of flexibility between the driving and driven elements whereby the driven element may be driven at the same speed or velocity as the driving element or a reduced velocity thereto. a

In carrying out the invention I provide a rotatable piston adapted to be connected to a source of power and an annular fluid chamber connected to a driven element in which a piston works, and cooperates with a fluid in said chamber and an abutment or abutments rcriprocable transversely of the fluid chamber and the path of movement of the piston to transmit movement of the piston to the driven element, or to permit the driving element with the piston to move independent of the driven element.

In the drawing accompanying and form ing a. part of this specification Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved clutch.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line A-A of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the piston mechanism.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the different views of the drawing.

The embodiment-of my invention shown in the drawing consists of a drum or cylinder 5 having two diameters, as shown at 6 and 7, and adapted to be connected and fixed at one end, as at 8, to a driven element such as a shaft or the like (not shown). The end of larger'diameter is closed by a head 9 having a central opening and thereby providing an annular chamber 11 to contain a suitable Ahead 1245f the-'samediaineter as the part of the cylinder of the least diameter is journaled in suitable bearings in the cylinder head opening 10 and at the'opposite end in the cylinder, as at 13, and adapted n14. to be operatively connected to a suitable source of power, said head also constitutingthe periphery of the head 12. These abutments are adapted to reciprocate transversely of the fluid chamber, and during such movement engage in grooves or guideways 18 in the inner wall of the cylinder of larger diameter and constituting one of the walls of the fluid chamber, and their ends are adapted to engage in a. recess 19 in the side wall of the cylinder head 9 and thereby provide a fluid tight partition in the fluid chamber.

The ahutments are reciprocatcd by the piston head 12 during the rotation thereof by a cam groove 20 in the peripheral wall of the piston head in which engage cam followers 21 projecting from the abutments 17. Suitable packing may be provided at the opposite ends of the piston head, as at 22 and 23. The piston 15 is carried by the head 12 to have adjustment transversely of the head and radially thereof to thereby increase or decrease the working or operating area of the piston and regulate the amount of fluid permitted to escape by the piston, and whereby to couple the driving elementtothe driven element and uncouple it therefrom. For this purpose the piston is adjustably or slidabl mounted in a transverse recess 24 in the hea 12, the piston and recess being so proportioned that the piston may be adjusted to be within the contour of the head 12, in which position it will not exert any force on the driven element. The piston is adjusted by gibs 25 slidably mounted within the head .carrier 14 cooperating with cam slots 26 in ward movement with the piston extending radially of the head 12; to the full extent with the end flush with the inner circumferential wall of the fluid chamber-r151, and it will be obvious to decrease the working area of the piston and permit the fluid to pass by the piston the collar 29 and therewith the gibs 25 will be adjusted to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, the gibs riding'up in the cam slots 26 in the piston .drawingthe latter into the head 12."- 1

In operation, .as'sumingthe parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 2 with the piston adjusted-outward to its full extent and with an abutment extending transversely. of the fluid chamber separating said chamber and intercepting ithe'path of movement of the piston, the pressure: of the piston on the liquid on the-side of the piston in which the same is being rotated will be impinged against the abutment, and as there is virtuallyzno escape for the fluid the piston through .said fluid will carry the abutment with the connected cylinder and element to be driven with it at substantially the same velocity as the piston is being rotated. Should it be desired to reduce the velocity of the driven element with relation to the velocity of the driving element the piston is adjusted into the head 12 thereby leaving a space between the end of the piston and the circumferential wall of the fluid chamber permitting the escape of a portion of the fluid in front of the piston and thereby'slippage will occur between the piston and cylinder 5, with the result that the piston will be rotated faster than the cylinder or driven element. As the piston is rotated faster within'the cylinder and to permit the passage of the piston past the abutment or abutments these abutments will be moved out of the path of movement of the piston and caused to intercept the same in proper timed sequence by the cam 20 in the head 1:2, but at all times an abutment will extend across the fluid chamber to take up the pressure of the liquid in front of the piston and thereby transmit the movement of the driving element through the piston to the cylinder and therethrough to the driven element. It will be readily understood that the cylinder and thereby the driven element may be driven in a reverse direction according to the direction in which the piston is rotated.

It will be understood that the speed of the driven element: is decreased in accordance merit to move the driven clement.

with the passage of the fluid by the piston, and that the power of the driven element is increased by the decreasing of the working portion of the piston face which tends to increase the speed of the driving element. This condition will exist until the area of the piston is reduced and the escape of the liquid increased to such an extent that there willnot be enough force exerted on the abut- The clutch will not take hold suddenly but gradually, starting the driven element slowly nd increasing until it is fully clutched and revolving at substantially the same velocity as the driving element. It will further be observed that as the piston is adjusted the power and speed is varied accomplishing the same object as a change of speed by-gears, but an infinite number of speeds, from nothing to full clutch and full speed, is transmitted from the driving to the driven element, and that the driven element may be driven at any speed up to the-full speed of thedriving element.

When the piston is adjusted outward to its full extent, as shown at 33 Fig. 2, there is a space in the piston recess in the head 12 which is in COlllll'llllllCutlOIl with the fluid chamber by a port 34. By this construction the fluid in the fluid chamber displaced by the piston when it is adjusted outward is adapted to enter into said space 33, and as the piston is adjusted into its carrier 12 the fluid forced out of the space 83 and occupies the space which was taken up by the piston in the fluid chamber.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A fluid clutch con'iprising a cylinder having an annular fluid chamber in an enlargement thereof with an abutment recip rocable transversely across said chamber and in a direction parallel with the axis of the cylinder, a piston to work in said chamber and cooperate with the abutment, and means to adjust the piston radially to increase and decrease the working area thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A fluid clutch comprising a cylinder having a fluid chamber; an abutment reciprocable transversely of said chamber; and a rotatable head carrying a piston to work in said chamber and having means to reciprocate the abutment during the movement thereof and cooperate with the piston for the purpose specified.

3. A fluid clutch comprising in combination a rotatable driving element having a piston connected thereto, a driven element including a cylinder having an annular enlargement to constitute a fluid chamber in which the piston is adapted to work, and an abutment reciprocable transversely across the fluid chamber and the path-of movement of the piston andin a. direction parallel with the axis of the-cylinder,-substantially 'as and for the purpose specified-.-

4. A fluid clutch comprisinga cylinder having an annular fluid chamber; an abutment'sli'dably carried by the cylinder to be reciprocated transversely of such chamber; a

rotatable head in the cylinderatlapted to reciprocate the abutment during tl'i'e'rota tion thereof; a piston carried by the head; to work in the fluid chamber and means to increase and decrease the working area of the piston, substantially as' and for the purpose specified.

5. A fluid clutch comprising a cylinder having an annular fluid chamber; an abutment slidably carried by the cylinder adapted to be reciprocated transversely of the fluid chamber; a rotatable head in the cylinder having means to reciprocate the abutment; and a piston carried by said head to work in the fluid chamber and cooperate with the abutment, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A fluid clutch comprising a cylinder having an annular fluid chamber; a rotatable head in the cylinder; abutn'ients slidably carried by the cylinder with one edge abutting against the periphery of the head and adapted to be reciprocated transversely of the fluid chamber; a piston carried by the head to work in the fluid chamber; and a cam groove in the periphery of the head in which a cam follower projecting from the abutments is adapted to engage whereby the abutments are reciprocated transversely of the fluid chamber and the path of movement of the piston in proper time sequence with the movement of the piston. substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. A fluid clutch comprising an annular fluid chamber, a rotatable head carrying a piston to work in said chamber, and an itblltll'lOllt adapted to be reciprocated transversely of the fluid chamber and the path of movement of the piston alternately and in proper timed sequence with the movement of the piston, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. A fluid clutch comprising a cylinder having an annular enh rgement to constitute a fluid chamber, a head rotatable in the cylinder carrying a piston to extend radially therefrom and to work in said chamber,

and an abutment reciprocable in a direction parallel with the axis of the cylinder by the head during the rotation thereof to alternately intercept the path of movement of the piston in proper timed sequence with the movement of the piston, substantially as' and for the purpose specified. v

9. A fluid clutch comprising a cylinder having an annular fluid chamber; a rotat table head in said cylinder; a piston carried by said head to work in the fluid chamber; a

plurality of. slidably mounted abutments carried the cylinder with one edge abutting agamst the periphery of the head; and

a cam groove in the periphery -of the head ber to intercept the path of movement of the piston alternately and in proper timed sequence with the movement of the piston,

iplcilstantially as and for the purpose speci- 10. In a fluid clutch a cylinder having an annular fluid chamber; a rotatable head in the cylinder; an abutment slidably carried by the cylinder with one edge abutting against the periphery of the head and adapted to be reciprocated transversely of the fluid chamber; and a piston to work in the fluid chamber carried by the head to have radial adjustment whereby to increase and decrease the working area of the piston, sfiubistantially as and for the purpose speci- 11. In a fluid clutch a cylinder having an annular fluid chamber; a rotatable head in the cylinder; an abutment slidably carried by the cylinder with one edge abutting against the periphery of the head and adapted to be reciproeated transversely of the fluid chamber; a piston to work in the fluid chamber adjustably carried by the head to extend radially therefrom; and means to adjust the piston radially of the head to in crease and decrease the working area of the piston, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a fluid clutch, a cylinder having an annular fluid chamber; a rotatable head in the cylinder; an abutment slidably carried by the cylinder with one edge abutting against the periphery of the head and adapted to be reciprocated transversely of the fluid chamber; a piston to work in the fluid chamber adjustably carried by the head to extend radially therefrom; and means to adjust the piston radially of the head to increase and decrease the working area of the piston, comprising gibs slidably carried within the head engaging in diagonal slots in the piston; and means connected to said gibs to adjust them longitudinally of the head, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. Ina fluid clutch, the combination of a fluid chamber, a rotatable piston to work in said chamber, an abutment recip'rocable transversely of said chamber, and means to adjust the piston radially to increase and decrease the working area thereof and to permit the escape ofliquid over the piston from in front thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified 14L. In a fluid clutch, the combination of a of the liquid over the piston from'in front fluid chamber, a rotatable piston to work in thereof, and means to move the abutment the fluid chamber, an abutment to intercept out of the path of the'piston during the ro- 10 the path of movement of the piston in the tation thereof, substantially as and for the 5 fluid chamber, means to adjust the piston purpose specified. 1'

radially to increase and decrease the working area of the piston and permit the escape SINCLAIR J. JOHNSON.

dopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

1 v Washington, D. G. 

